Distributing apparatus



P. M. BAINEY.

DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28| 17917.

1375,72 Patented Apr- 26, 1921.

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P. M. RAINEY.

DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED AUG.28| I917.

1,375,728. Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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by A1654 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL M. RAINEY, 0F GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL M. RAINEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glen Ridge, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Distributing Apparatus, of which the following is a full. clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improved type of current impulse distributing apparatus, particularly adapted for use in multipleX printing telegraph systems, although obviously not. limited to such use.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide distributing apparatus of the above type which is flexible, easy to construct, and efiicient in operation.

For the accomplishment of the above objects the invention contemplates the provision of a plurality of segmented distributer faces preferably arranged in separate parallel planes. The segments are segregated so that the receiving and receiving local segments are carried on one distributer face, the sending and sending local segments on another distributer face, and the correcting segments on still another distributer face. The distributer faces are mounted parallel to one another and are normally stationary, but are adapted to be orientated or turned through a complete revolution, when necessary, asfor example, when it is desired to regain synchronism once it is lost. Suitable collector brushes or trailers are carried by distributer arms, mounted on a rotatable shaft, and are adapted to engage and interconnect the segmented distributer rings with the common or continuous rings, there being one pair of brushes for each pair of distributer rings.

While the preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in connection with a multiplex telegraph system, it is to be understood that it is equally suitable for other signaling systems wherein it is desirable to distribute current impulses in a predetermined or sequential order.

The above and other features of this invention will be fully set forth in the following description and claims and will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a plurality of current distributers with one of such distributers shown in cross-eaction;- Fig. 2 is a front view on line 2, 2 (Fig. 1) of the correcting distributer face; Fig, 2 is a front view on line 3, 3 (Fig. 1) of the sending distributer face; and Fig. 4 is a front view on line 1, 4 (Fig. 1) of the receiving distributer face.

Referring first to Fig. 4, the receiving distributer face R comprises a plurality of rings which are adapted to be connected in pairs by suitable brushes, one ring of each pair being segmented and one ring of each pair being continuous. Rings 10 and 11 form one pair, of which ring 10 is segmented, these rings being connected by brushes 2Q and 21 carried by a distributer arm 25. Rings 12 and 13 form another pair, of which ring 12 is segmented, these two rings being employed for controlling local apparatus when interconnected by brushes 22 and 23. These latter rings are generally employed for the purpose of distributing local impulses to the receiving mechanism, such for example as the local impulses for controlling the printing operation of a telegraph receiving printer.

The sending distributer face S, like distributer face R, is likewise composed of a plurality of rings some of which are segmented and others of which are continuous. Segmentedring 30 and continuous ring 31 form one pair of sending rings and are adapted to be connected by brushes similar to those carried by the distributer arm 25. Segmented ring 32 and continuous ring 33 form another pair likewise adapted to be interconnected by suitable trailer brushes carried by a rotatable distributer arm. The former pair of the above-mentioned rings are generally employed for impressing upon a transmission line current impulses in sequential or predetermined order. The latter pair of rings are for the purpose of providing local impulses which may be utilized at the sending station for operating local apparatus, such for example, as stepping ahead the tape of an automatic transmitter.

The correcting distributer face C may be used for the purpose of automatically maintaining synchronism, as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 22,303 filed April 19, 1915. The distributer face 0 is composed of two rings, one of which is segmented and the other of which is continuous. The segmented ring 40 and the continuous ring 41 are adapted to be interconnected by suitable trailer brushes similar CIR gees

to those illustrated in l connection With the receiving distributor.

l the correcting, sending and receiving distributor heads are shown arranged in three parallel planes, suitably mounted on frame supports 26, 2'! and 28 respectively. Extending through the center of each of the distributer heads is a rotatable shaft 299. in trout of each distributor face and rigidly connected to the rotatable shaft 29 is a distributor arm 25 (only one of Which is shown) carrying trailer brushes arranged to sweep over and interconnect the rings of the distributor laces. it is, of course, understood that the tvvo trailer brushes of each pair are electrically con-- nected together. I

The trailer arms 25 and shaft 29 may be rotated by means oi a motor 15 or any suitable driving mechanism of uniform speed. A thy-Wheel 16 is shown connected to the motor shalt for damping fluctuations in the speed of the motor. The fly-Wheel may consist of a chamber l6 filled With mercury, or it maybe of any other suitable construction.

The distributor heads are mounted stationary on the supports 26, 27 and 28 but are arranged so that they may be orientated or turned through a complete revolution of 360 if desired. For this purpose a handle 17 is rovided and connected to eachoi the distri uter heads. in order thatthe distributor heads may be orientated Without disturbing or affecting the circuit connections to the segments of the distributer faces a flexible cable 35 is provided for each distributer containing a plurality of conductors 38 connected to the distributor segments as shown in'Fig. l. The cables 35 are so arranged that when any one of the distributor heads is orientated. the slack in the cable will be Wound upon the drum portion 36 Without rupturing or injuring the circuit connections to any of the distributor segments.

This type of distributor is Well suited for various kinds of service where it is necessary thatthe receiving and sending instruments be kept in synchronism, and .is particularly Well suited for service on lines where there are a number of receiving stations receiving'from a lesser number of sending stations. If for some reason any one of the receiving stations should get out of synchronism with the sending station, the receiving operator 'at that station may regain'synchronism quickly by simply turning the receiving distributor until the signals are received in their proper phase,

In case it is desired to work rom different stations taro or more channels through one repeating'station, it may be necessary to ad just the sending distributors in such. a Way that the impulses from the different stations will be received at the repeating station 1n automatic transmitter, etc, must bear a defiit nite phase relation to the signaling impulses. it is essential that the sending and sending local segments of the sending distributor, always hear a fixed relation to one another, and it is not necessary that they be made relatively adjustable. The same is true with respect tothe receiving distributer. That is, the receiving and receiving local segments must have a fixed relation with respect to one another so that the local impulses which are utilized at the receiving station to perform such functions as operating the printing magnet, etc, will bear a definite phase relation to the signaling impulses. On the other hand, it is highly desirable for synchronizing purposes that the sending, receiving andcorrecting segments be made adjustable With respect to one another. Bymeansot applicants invention the correcting, receiving or sending distributer may be orientated independently of the others, thereby providing a system of greatflexibility and one wherein synchronism may be readily established.

What is claimed is:

1. A distributing apparatus comprising a rotatable head, a distributor face carried by said head, segments on said face, a cable containing a pluralityot flexible conductors, the conductors of said cable being connected directly to said segments, and means Whereby said head may be rotated Without altering the connections to said segments.

2. A distributing apparatus comprising a rotatable head, means for rotating said head, a cable wound uponsaid head and. rotatable therewith, a plurality of segments carriedby said rotatable head, and circuit connections extending from said cable to said segments.

Y Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe Ly name this 24th day of August A. D.

PAUL 'M. RAINEY. 

